Eye On Independence Jan 2011

www.eyeonmag.com

A Publication of MeadowLand Media, Inc.

January 2011

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$38.5 MILLION IN

HOME MORTGAGES* A true definition of putting community

FIRST! See us first

Batesville 1325 Harrison St. 870-612-3400 *1- to 4-family mortgages and construction loans originated in Batesville from January 2010 through October 2010.

Does not include commercial mortgages. Offer of credit is subject to credit approval.

January 2011 | 3

In This Issue 6/Letter from the Publisher This New Year

7/Fork in the Road

The Parachute Inn: One-of-a-Kind Dining Experience

9/Pioneer Football 2010

Pioneer Football 2010: A Great Season Ends

10/People

Matt Gunter, DVM

12/Feature

7

24

9

30

10

34

20

38

Up On Main Street

16/Notes from the Clearing Sweet New Years Night

17/I Do

The Johnson Wedding

18/A Visit with Carmel New Beginnings

19/Wandering the White River Valley Traversing the Buckhorn

20/Homes

The Reed Home

24/Youth

Southside youth enjoys deadly fun on weekends

25/Note Worthy Events 30/Organization

New Location Increases Awareness for Family Violence Prevention

31/Local Happenings Wreaths Across America

32/The Arts

BAAC Art Gallery News

34/Birds, Bees, Flowers and Trees Going Green for Your Pocketbook

38/EOI Movie Review The Social Network

January 2011 www.eyeonmag.com

A Publication

of MeadowLand

Media, Inc.

Cover photo and design by Clayton Cavaness Black and White photo on cover Powell Guard Collection, Old Independence Regional Museum

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Independence THIS PUBLICATION IS PRODUCED BY

Creative Director: Joseph Thomas

MeadowLand Media, Inc. P. O. Box 196, Grubbs, AR 72431 870.503.1150 kthomas@eyeonmag.com

AD DESIGN Department: Kimberlee Thomas Mindy Shrable

PUBLISHER: Kimberlee Thomas Associate EDITOR: Bob Pest MANAGING EDITOR: Joseph Thomas ADVERTISING: Daisy Moore Kimberlee Thomas

PROOFING DEPartment: Gina Dearheart Staff PHOTOGRAPHERS: Clayton Cavaness Kimberlee Thomas Joseph Thomas CIRCULATION: Daisy Moore Joseph Thomas PRINTING COMPANY: Rockwell Publishing

Eye On Independence is a publication of MeadowLand Media, Incorporated. Editorial, advertising and general business information can be obtained by calling (870) 503-1150 or emailing Kimberlee Thomas at kthomas@eyeonmag.com. Mailing address: P. O. Box 196, Grubbs, AR 72431.

Opinions expressed in articles or advertisements, unless otherwise noted, do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Publisher or the staff. Every effort has been made to ensure that all information presented in this issue is accurate and neither MeadowLand Media or it any of its staff is responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. Copyright © 2010 MeadowLand Media, Incorporated. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without the permission in writing from the Publisher.

All pictorial material reproduced in this book has been accepted on the condition that it is reproduced with the knowledge and prior consent of the photographer concerned. As such, MeadowLand Media, Incorporated, is not responsible for any infringement of copyright or otherwise arising out of publication thereof.

For advertising, distribution, or editorial contribution, contact Kimberlee Thomas 870.503.1150 kthomas@eyeonmag.com.

subscribe Subscribe to Eye On Independence to make sure you receive every edition through the convenience of home delivery!

Annual subscriptions are $48 To set up your subscription today, go to www.eyeonmag.com Call 870.503.1150 Mail payment with delivery address to: Eye On Subscriptions P.O. Box 196 Grubbs, AR 72431 January 2011 | 5

Letter from the Publisher Kimberlee Thomas As I thumbed through the pages of my 2010 day-planner I was amazed at what can be accomplished in 365 days! I was also amazed at how quickly those days can pass. I suppose I am an old fashioned girl in that I love paper; it is the tangibility of it I think.

Don’t get me wrong I love technology, being able to check my email from my cell phone is wonderful.

But to be able to hold a book full of pages that are covered with notes and tidbits of how I’ve spent most every day over the last year, well it’s comforting to me. I believe that is why I love creating the magazine you now hold in your hands. It is a record; a journal of collected days and lives combined.

I hope you enjoy this issue as we take a quick tour along Historic

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Main Street and make note of all the new storefronts that have popped up over the last year or so.

Eye On also had a chance to visit with Dr. Matt Gunter, DVM and discovered he is a man of many talents. Also in this issue Bob Pest shares with us another wonderful dining experience and Autumn Hunter shows us how to "Go Green" and save some green this year.

Eye On would like to welcome Julie Fidler, Freda Cruse Phillips, and Mark Lamberth to our list of writers this year. And a quick note to those who will surely notice and wonder the significance, there will be a small photo of very special young lady hidden within the pages of this and each future issue of Eye On. It seems that finding herself within the pages brings happiness and a smile. Who am I

This New Year to deny her this joy?

Eye On is fast approaching its first birthday and we are thrilled.

We enjoying visiting with our readers every chance we get so please continue to catch us on the street and give us your feedback about Eye On and keep those emails and Facebook posts coming.

Joseph and I are excited to journey into this New Year and discover what it will hold for us and those we hold dear. We wish you and yours a prosperous and happy New Year and as far as those New Year resolutions, well… Be strong and good luck.N

Fork in the Road There are restaurants in caves, restaurants on rafts, restaurants in churches, restaurants in bank vaults, and restaurants in tents. But only a handful of cities and towns in the world can boast of having a restaurant in an airplane. Fortunately, Walnut Ridge, Arkansas, is one of those towns.

The Parachute Inn, located at the Walnut Ridge Regional Airport, has transformed the fuselage of a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 into a unique and comfortable dining room. The dining room is connected to the main building by a walkway that replicates the boarding experience and sets the tone for an unforgettable meal. The restaurant was opened as the Parachute Inn in 2001 by Donna Robertson. Her niece, Rhonda Higginbotham, took over when Donna retired. Rhonda is extremely energetic and friendly.

Her days include everything from shampooing the carpets in the aircraft, talking with visitors full of questions, and serving lunches during the lunchtime rush. The Parachute has been "adopted"

by Southwest and other pilots, whose signatures and messages adorn the areas above the seats.

The inside of the aircraft has been painstakingly refurbished to capture the Southwest Airlines "look" and to give diners ample space.

The restaurant is open Tuesday

The Parachute Inn: One-of-a-Kind Dining Experience through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for breakfast and lunch and Friday and Saturday evenings from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. for dinner. It is closed Sunday and Monday. Fridays are known as "Catfish Fridays" and Saturday features an impressive Seafood Buffet offering both breaded and peel’n’eat shrimp, stuffed crabs, and crawfish. Prices at the Parachute are low across the menu, but the Saturday Buffet is an incredible bargain at $10.49.

Lunchtime offers a choice between the buffet and ordering from the menu. The buffet is heavy on popular comfort foods, mac and cheese, meatloaf, spaghetti with meat sauce, and desserts like banana pudding like your mother used to make. The menu gives diners burgers, BLTs, chicken strips, hamburger steak, and an outstanding Grilled Chicken to choose from, along with tater tots, fries, and onion rings. Perfectly battered and breaded, the golden onion rings are as good as they get, period.

A map of the U.S. with pins identifying visitors’ home towns provides a good indication of the growing awareness and popularity of this whimsical attraction; only a handful of states are not represented by a pin on the map.

Tourists to the Parachute are quickly made to feel like regulars by the well-trained staff; service is exemplary.

The Wings of Honor Walnut Ridge Army Flying School Museum is located across the street from the restaurant and well worth your time. The museum salutes and honors all the pilots of the Army Air Corps. The airport itself has a rich history, having been a WWII Army Air Field.

The airport also holds the distinction of having been "visited" by the Beatles during their first American tour and is the only place in Arkansas ever visited by the band. During a short break in their demanding tour schedule, the group was invited to spend a few days at a private getaway in Southern Missouri. Attempting to avoid their fervent fans, the group planned to fly into the relatively quiet airport and then be driven to their Missouri destination.

Thanks to a talkative pilot, word got out around town and when the Fab Four returned for the flight out the runways were crowded with shrieking teenage girls and their curious parents.

The Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce in the town of 5,000

Photo by Judy Pest

Bob Pest

January 2011 | 7

rock stars like Jerry Lee Lewis and Elvis Presley played in nightclubs and Honky Tonks in the late 1950s and early 1960s. The Beatles will fit right in.

The Walnut Ridge Regional Airport is located just off of Highway 67 north of town. The Parachute is located next to the FBO at 10 SkyThe airport also holds the distinction of having watch. Just look for the distinctive red and tan Southwest Airlines been “visited” by the Beatles during their first colors. For information or detailed American tour and is the only place in Arkansas directions call 870-886-5918. ever visited by the band.

Additional information about attractions, parks, lodging, campis planning to erect a sculpture at Road. Walnut Ridge is on U.S. ing and museums in the region, as the municipal airport to mark the 67, designated by the Legislature well as more restaurant reviews by site where the Fab Four landed on as Rock 'n' Roll Highway 67 from Bob Pest, can be found at September 19, 1964. The sculp- Newport to the Missouri state www.ozarkgateway.com ture will use the well-known line. The route traverses a region or call 800-264-0376.N image from the album Abbey of northeast Arkansas where early

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Pioneer Football 2010 Mark Lamberth The Pioneer Nation was treated to a 12-1 Football season in 2010, including a 5A East Conference Championship which has proved to be an elusive goal in recent years and a trip to the State Semi-Finals.

To put this accomplishment into perspective, remember the 2009 version was 5-4-1 overall, 3-4 in league play and missed the playoffs entirely. How does a team bounce back following a subpar season and perform well enough to go undefeated in the regular season while winning a conference championship and reach the semi-finals of the 5A State Championship?

It’s easy to point to the old clichés of hard work in the off season that carried over into summer workouts; continuing with great

Photo by Matthew’s Photography

Pioneer Football 2010: A Great Season Ends leadership from a dedicated senior class. In addition, young talent moving up from the junior high program meshed well with returning lettermen and starters. All of these factors played a major role in the success of 2010 Pioneer Football Team. However, to end the analysis at that juncture would not take the process to its full conclusion. Many teams in every classification across the state of Arkansas can claim the same attributes of hard work, dedicated seniors, and talent. Why do some of these same teams have lackluster seasons while a select few win championships? The answer lies in the team’s ability to cope with adversity that always surely comes sometime during pre-season fall practice and during the regular season. Adversity can come in many forms – a dismissal, a defection, or an injury.

These setbacks and how they are able to cope with them define a team.

More times than not, it impacts young players negatively and without support, a season can spiral out of control despite all the hard work

and talent present.

The 2010 Pioneers were subjected to all three of the aforementioned adversities and not only survived but exceeded all pre-season expectations. The dismissal of players in the off season, the defection of the projected starting quarterback prior to the start of pre-season practice, and an injury to a key player on both sides of the football early in the conference schedule were all hurdles thrown in the path of the 2010 Pioneer Football Team. They were able to “pull together and close ranks” to overcome the negative impact of each and treat them as “bumps in the roads rather than roadblocks.”

Two words sum up this characteristic to not only survive but to exceed expectations when faced with negative events – Team Character. Take the character of individuals, blend it with a senior class determined not to repeat 2009 and enhance it with hard work and talent. Throw in a coaching staff that cares about its players (on and off the field) and blend it with an aggressive style of offensive and defensive football. Add a mixture of supportive parents and a loyal fan base and you turn out a recipe for success that yields a 5A East Championship and a trip to the State Semi-Finals.N Mark’s portrait by Keith Sturch

Photos by Clayton Cavaness

January 2011 | 9

People Matt Gunter, DVM

Joseph Thomas On a cool December morning, Kimberlee and I entered the Animal Medical Center at 50 Allen Chapel Road. On our way in we passed several dogs leaving with their relieved owners and a clean bill of health. In the waiting room, we met Charlie, the Pug, and his worried master. Charlie was shaky with a bit of a balance problem. All of his problems began that morning and so his master rushed him in to see Dr. Gunter immediately.

We were escorted out of the waiting room and into the back along with the Pug. Introductions were made and Dr. Gunter began his inspection of Charlie, suspecting he may have gotten into some dropped meds. Dr. Gunter drew some blood and ordered charcoal to clean the Pug‘s system and a bath because that is apparently not the cleanest of procedures.

Then we were led to his office for an interview while Charlie was being tested and bathed.

The office was filled with works of Crayon Art presented to Dr. Gunter by his daughters. The office is close to the action of the lab, so we were able to follow Charlie’s progress as we learned about Dr. Matt Gunter.

Eye On: What is your educational background?

Gunter: I was home schooled in central Texas from the second semester of my first grade year

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until I was out of high school. I had family in Arkansas, so I came here and spent the summer of 1992 on Lyon College Campus in their Upward Bound Math and Science Program, a program for first generation or low income high school students with academic promise.

I enjoyed that and so I came back for four years and graduated with a degree in Biology. It was during those four years that I met and married a beautiful girl from Melbourne. We married during our sophomore year in college. Then I went to Veterinary School at LSU in Baton Rouge. We spent four years there and when I graduated and we got ready to move, the opportunity to work here came open and so I began working here for Dr. Ken Smith in 2003. I worked for him for two and a half years before I bought the place in October of 2005.

Eye On: What inspired you as a young person to become involved in veterinary medicine?

Gunter: Honestly, I never really thought about it growing up. I was encouraged by many and told as a young adult that I would probably make a good large animal vet, which is sort of funny because I only work with dogs and cats.

Really, I enjoyed the Health Science field, but I didn’t want to be a medical doctor or a dentist. It just became more and more of a fit. I

didn’t really decide on veterinary medicine until I was a senior in college.

Eye On: Did you have to back up and take some courses to change your field?

Gunter: I had to take two courses that I had not taken, so it wasn’t a big deal.

Eye On: Tell us about some of your involvement with the local community, specifically the Humane Society.

Gunter: We had an open house a couple of years ago and had them out promoting adoptions. We do surgeries from time to time. We spay and neuter. The other day they brought a dog in with a broken leg.

We try to help them out as much as we can.

Eye On: Tell us about your clinic and what your customers can expect from bringing their pets here.

Continued on page 29

lizabeth’s

Restaurant & Catering

Open Tuesday - Saturday 11 am - 3 pm Thursday, Friday & Saturday 5 pm - 9 pm 870-698-0903

231 East Main Street Historic Downtown Batesville January 2011 | 11

Feature Kimberlee Thomas A New Year and a New View In the beginning Main Street America was exactly what its name implies, the main attraction. Retail merchants and service businesses alike were abundant. Families would travel to town on Saturday afternoons to gather the weekly or monthly household needs. They might even enjoy an ice cream soda or movie while on their pilgrimage. Mom and Dad would catch up on the local happenings while the kids clamored about on the sidewalk. Everything the family could need or want seemed to be found on Main Street or within easy walking distance.

And then, as time kept its steady forward march, Main Street America began to change. Storefronts, once full of carefully displayed merchandise, became hollow faces stripped of their glamour. Sidewalks full of friends and neighbors fell silent. The lure of the super markets and mega-marts

Up On Main Street

Photos by Robert O. Seat

was simply irresistible, with everything a person could need under one roof!

But time has a funny way of turning back on itself and after a while people began to long for the things of the past. Things they once thought were trivial or even bothersome they now want to do again, to find something they feel they have lost in their lust for convenience. And so Main Street America is being reborn.

Batesville’s beautiful historic Main Street is no different from so many others across our country.

Enjoying what was once a thriving scene of commerce, falling into despair and then through diligence, love, and tenacity regaining its status among the community as the main attraction once more.

There are many businesses on Main Street that have stood the test of time, and we applaud them for their perseverance. We would also like to acknowledge the new

comers to Main Street over the past eighteen months and applaud them for their grit. Many of the historic buildings on Main Street have required significant refurbishing in order to meet today’s building and safety codes. Those who have been long established on Main Street and those that are new are here because of their owners' love and dedication to community.

If you haven’t been down Main Street in a while let me invite you to come and see what you’ve been missing. The view has changed as businesses, old and new alike, have brought the glamour back to the storefronts. In the following pages you will find a brief look at several new businesses that have made Main Street their home in the last year or so. In the coming year we will continue to visit with Main Street merchants by spotlighting a business each month and sharing with you, our readers, the treasure that is our Historic Main Street.

Impulse 109 E. Main Street / (870) 758-0295 Owners / Managers: Gilbert & Melody Lopez Number of Employees:5 What does your business offer the public? We carry women's & men's premium clothing as well as handbags, shoes, and jewelry. We will soon be carrying Bare Mineral make-up.

Why did you choose the Main Street area for you business? We loved the atmosphere of downtown and love the look of a historic area.

What do you like about being on Main Street?

We love the old buildings and the character of each building as well as the generosity of all the businesses around who seem to always try to help each other.

Body Fit 115 E. Main Street www.bodyfitarkansas.com Owners / Managers: Gilbert & Melody Lopez Number of Employees: 2 What does your business offer the public? We are a group fitness center; we offer a body sculpting class, ZUMBA, Turbo Kick and Hot Yoga.

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Nu-Way Cleaners & Laundry, Inc. 121 S. 4th Street / (870) 793-5775 Owner: Donald Crieghton Managers: Kevin Crieghton, Paul Hutchison, Paul Moser, Caney Hill Number of Employees: 38 What does your business offer the public? Nu-Way offers personal laundry and cleaning, industrial laundry service, including mat and mat rental, uniform rental, kitchen towels, table linens. We provide rental service for a 10 county area.

Why did you choose the Main Street area for your business? This location was established in the early 1930's. We closed for a brief period and reopened our doors in the summer of 2010.

What do you like about being on Main Street? Even though Batesville is spreading out geographically Main street is still the hub of activity with the courthouse, the Library, and the Post Office is just one block south.

Fellowship Bible Church 325 E. Main Street / www.fellowshipbatesville.org Pastor: John Mark Rutter Worship/Youth Pastor: Christian Baxter Office Administrator: Laura Ong Number of Employees: 4; 1 full time, 3 part time What does your business offer the public? A welcoming, fresh, nontraditional environment to encounter the living God! Why did you choose the Main Street area for you business? We want to be centrally located to serve all of Batesville and Independence County.

What do you like about being on Main Street? It's a high-traffic, visible location with a lot of history. We love being integrated into the downtown area, and it gives us lots of opportunities to interact with people who might not have a church home. We love our neighbors and want to bring Christ's hope and grace to our community, and downtown is the perfect place for us to live out those principles.

Batesville Gaming Center 266 E. Main Street Owner: Russell Castro Number of Employees: 3 What does your business offer to the public? We offer game play on both modern and classic gaming systems such as XBOX 360, Play Station 2 and 3, Nintendo 64, and many others. With adults on site at all times, Batesville Gaming Center provides a safe environment for everyone. We also host birthday parties and tournaments.

Why did you choose the Main Street area for your business? For years, Main Street has been undiscovered by the younger generation.

We wanted to be one of the many new attractions to Main Street, and also to the Batesville area.

What do you like about being on Main Street? We like meeting and seeing all of the new faces as there are lots of people coming downtown to check out the new businesses. Also, our neighbors are awesome.

January 2011  |  13

Embroidery and Beyond 417 E. Main Street / (870) 793-8056 Owner: Sandra Holman Manager: Nancy Cossey Assistant Managers: Cameron Martin and Melanie Beeler Employee: Jaunita Terrell What does your business offer the public? We do embroidery work on bags, cap, shirts, jackets, etc. We do custom company logos, school logos, we even do the new distressed applique. We offer screen printing and digital print to garments, and glass etching. We carry Bible covers, purses, wallets, casual wear, and uniform items. We bring 25 years of combined embroidery experience to our business.

Why did you choose Main Street for your business? Nancy had a business on Main Street before and we have always liked the downtown atmosphere. It is a vital part of Batesville's history and will be a vital part of its future.

What do you like about being on Main Street? We love the hometown feeling of being on Main Street. It is like working with your neighbors.

J & J Military Surplus 159 W. Main Street / (870) 834-3641 Owners: J.W. Kerr and Juanita Kerr Managers: Juanita Kerr What does your business offer the public? We carry a selection of new and used military surplus items.

Why did you choose the Main Street area for your business? There used to be a store of this type on Main Street and we felt there should be again.

What do you like about being on Main Street? The atmosphere of the historic buildings for one thing. Most of all we like the community of vendors here on Main Street. We also like the fact that Old Main is being built back up and more and more people are coming out and walking around and shopping like they did years ago.

Olde Towne Mall 407 E. Main Street / (870)698-0059 Owners / Managers: Terri Harris, Sharron Emery, and Sandra Bugh What does your business offer the public? Over 8,000 square feet of antiques, crafts and collectibles spread out on two levels. We provide spaces for individuals who want to sell their wares. The vendors bring in their items, decorate, and tag them and we take care of all of the sales and bookkeeping. Some of the booths have names such as, "G G's Goodies", The Lemon Drop, The Strawberry Patch, Rose Manor, and Wes' Cedar. There is a cozy place to sit, drink a cup of coffee and reminisce.

Why did you choose Main Street for you business? The history.

Terri Harris, who initiated the opening of the Olde Towne Mall grew up in Batesville in the 1970's when downtown Main Street was the "booming" place to go. Our Wal-Mart back then was the Sterling Store and our Home Depot was Robinson Hardware and Otasco.

What do you like about being on Main Street? The nice shops and restaurants. We want to be a part of the downtown "action".

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Etta s Attic Antiques & Collectables 143 E. Main Street / (870) 793-3100 Owner: Mary Etta Crowder Employee: There is one part-time employee at this time.

What does your business offer the public? You will find an assortment of antiques, gifts and collectibles, home décor, jewelry, pottery, candles, furniture, and more. Most importantly, we offer a pleasant and fun shopping environment. You will enjoy the variety of items as well as our very reasonable prices.

Why did you choose Main Street for your business? We love the friendly atmosphere and wonderful old buildings that bring back memories of growing up in a small town in N.E. Arkansas where we shopped a "Main Street" with our family.

What do you like about being on Main Street? Traffic is constant. People are friendly. I love that one can start at the beginning of Main Street and walk down one side and up the other with so much to look at and browse through.

Simply Southern Playhouse 201 E. Main Street Owners: Elmer and Debbie Cochran Manager: Forrest Faulkner, volunteer.

Volunteers: Marion Allred-Street, Forrest and Sandra Faulkner.

What does your business offer the public? We have music concerts during the Main Street 2nd Friday Event each month. We have different performers each month with their own unique style of music. "Batesville's Got Talent". We provide family entertainment. Our regular patrons look forward to the show each month.

They have expressed their appreciation for a place to go hear good music.

Why did you choose Main Street for your business? Because of the improvements taking place. The Main Street Movement is alive.

What do you like most about being on Main Street? I have fallen in love with that Main Street feel. I am so thankful to be part of the historic downtown business district and part of the preservation and revitalization.

The Cinnamon Stick Coffee and Sandwich Shoppe 151 W. Main Street / (870)569-4904 Owners: Karen Narramore and Judy Kane What does your business off the public? We serve gourmet coffees, soup, sandwiches, herbal teas, gourmet cakes, and cheesecakes. We have free Wi-Fi for our customers. There is free entertainment by local artist on Friday nights. We have a relaxed atmosphere with comfy couches and chairs that are great for just hanging out and enjoying a cup of gourmet coffee. We also have several dining tables for those who prefer a more traditional seating experience Why did you choose Main Street for your business? We saw the potential for growth on Main Street and wanted to be a part of the revitalization of our Main Street.

What do you like about being on Main Street? We love the friendly, down home, atmosphere.

January 2011 | 15

The Greasy Spoon 101 E. Main Street Owners: Becky Burdine What does your business off the public? Well, we are hoping to be open by the time this issue of Eye On hits the streets. We will be serving great home style food at great prices. We will have plate lunches or you can order from the menu. Our atmosphere will take you back to the “Good Old Days”.

Why did you choose Main Street for your business? There is a lot of activity on Main Street these days and we wanted to be a part of it.

What do you like about being on Main Street? The friendliness of everyone. Even through the lengthy renovations people have been supportive and have offered words of encouragement as they anticipate our opening.

Batesville Computing 133 S. Broad Street / (870) 376-0123 Owner: Russell Castro Employees: One What does your business offer to the public? We provide affordable computer repair services. We also offer website hosting, website development, virus removal,and high speed wireless internet service.

Why did you choose the Main Street area for your business?

We chose the downtown area because of the foot traffic, as well as the people. With the county tax assessor right across the street, we see just about everyone.

What do you like about being on Main Street? We like the neighboring businesses, as well as the friendly people.

Notes from the Clearing Joseph Thomas

Sweet New Years Night

Newly arrived New Years Night, barely awake with dreamy eyes.

What is to come from beginning anew, who should I be and what should I do?

Can I be better with clearer eyes, with a quicker wit that’s closer to wise.

May I stand taller with a steady hand, as I run farther than I ever have, with a condition of discipline that knows no limit, with a life for this passion and a passion to be in it?

Might I remain gentle as my children find their way and guide them with a tree like sway, for it is in their love that I began, growing with them into a man.

Here I am open to it all, with eyes wide and feet for the fall.

I wish to know, learn, do and feel, and perhaps I can do all of this still, for I’m so far from done and only at the start, where it takes a less luck and a lot more heart.

May I endeavor to enjoy, this sweet New Years Night and see the world true in this crisp Winter’s Light.

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I Do Submitted Blake Johnson and Lindsey Edwards were introduced to each other through a family member when they were fourteen. They would always speak and hangout at basketball games together but they never were aware that they both had crushes on each other.

About six years passed before their paths crossed again and their story together began. Lindsey was sitting at home one evening and her phone rang. "Surprise." It just happened to be a blast from her past. It was Blake and he wanted to know if she would have dinner with him two nights later. Lindsey had always wanted a chance to see what dating Blake Johnson would be like, so of course she said “YES!” They went out on a wonderful dinner date and everything from that point on just fell into place.

There wasn’t one day that passed that they didn’t see one another.

Photos: Shuttered Image

Exactly two months later they became engaged. Lindsey came home from work and on her door was a note with a rose that said, “This is for our past." When she walked to her bedroom door there was another note with a rose that read “This is for our present."

When she opened the door to her room Blake was on one knee with the ring carefully resting in the petals of another rose and he said, “This is for the future I want to spend with you," followed by the best words she says she has ever heard, “WILL YOU MARRY ME?” The couple married five months later on September 25, 2010, at West Baptist Church in Batesville.

Their beautiful day was everything they wanted thanks to their families, Michael Swaffer at Shuttered Image, Teresa Elms, The Wilson family, the ladies at Unlimited Styles, and many others.

The Johnson Wedding Lindsey is the daughter of Quillen and Karen Edwards of Mt. Pleasant and the granddaughter of D.R. and Beth Edwards of Mt. Pleasant and the late Lyod and Glenda Mae Salter of Desha. Blake is the son of Chris and Mary Jo Johnson of Mt. Pleasant and the grandson of Jim Dick and Betty Johnson of Mt. Pleasant and the late Author and Verna Wilkerson of Imboden.

The young couple currently lives in Conway where Blake is finishing his last semester of surveying school at the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton. Lindsey is an employee at Stone County Medical Center where she is an Ultrasound Technologist. The couple plans to move back to Mt. Pleasant in the spring.N

January 2011 | 17

A Visit with Carmel Carmel Aaron At different times in our lives we feel the need to improve our life, our health, our organization, or our relationships. Maybe that’s why for so many years we have heard about people making New Year’s Resolutions, although we can start a new beginning at any time of the year or of our lives.

As a Certified Diet Wellness Coach, I work continually with people in classes and one-on-one who desire a new beginning in shaping up and getting healthier.

When I teach classes I work with people first to define their goals.

You are unable to make a new beginning until you decide in a very specific way what you want to change or accomplish. One of the greatest obstacles to a person in reaching his or her desired goal is the inability to tell the difference between a choice and an excuse.

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New Beginnings Teaching others to discern the difference between choices and excuses is everything in helping them to reach their goals successfully. Accomplishments are empowering. As people reach their goals they become more confident and successful. It also helps give them a sense of well being.

We make hundreds of choices every day, beginning when we first wake up. What do you do when your alarm clock goes off? Do you choose to get up and prepare for the day in a timely manner, or do you make the excuse that you need just five more minutes of sleep and hit the snooze button until you are running late?

You may be asking yourself, “What’s the difference between a choice and an excuse?” Webster’s Dictionary defines them in the following manner: Excuse – (a) to make apology for (b) to try to remove blame from; Choice – (a) the right or power to choose.

Which definition sounds more empowering to you? When you are making excuses for your actions, you are falling victim to those excuses, not to mention you are not taking the proper steps toward your goals.

Decide today what you want to accomplish, it could be anything.

Make a list of what steps you must take to reach that goal. At the end of the day review what you have accomplished. Did you make choices or did you make excuses?

Writing in a daily journal will help you become more aware of the choices or excuses you are making as you work to reach your goals.

No matter what your goals are, achieving them is a contributing factor to your wellness, as it gives you a sense of accomplishment and empowerment; you have more control over your life and that is a wonderful feeling. My best to you as you take the first steps toward your new beginning.N

Wandering the White River Valley Freda Cruse Phillips

Traversing the Buckhorn

Lafferty Settlement and Landing 1810: Part One

From the Arkansas Territories came Lawrence and Arkansas Counties then Independence, from which was carved portions of present day Izard and 50 years later Stone County. In 1803 following the Louisiana Purchase in a time when the Osage Indians occupied the Ozark region, the first settlers began arriving staking claims, homesteading this bountiful wilderness we call home. The Osage Indians were here in the White River Valley at least 2,000 years before they were driven out by treaty in 1808 making way for the establishment 1817 Cherokee Indian Reservation. For a short time between 1808 and 1817 early settlers moved into the lands on the west side of the river. After 1817, for whites to be on the west side of the river they had to be married to an Indian, be part Indian or have established trade with the Indians. The reservation stretched from the White River Valley of present day Stone County to the western border of Oklahoma, all of which was included in the Arkansas Territories. Explorers may have ventured here as early as 800, leaving behind the Smithville Runestone believed to be a Nordic headstone, Son of Olaf. And there’s the DeSoto Rock, outside of Batesville, evidence that Hernando DeSoto did in fact make it this far. And then, there’s the Ruddell’s and Lafferty’s who were among our first settlers.

John Lafferty and his future son in law, Charles Kelly, ran a keel boat operation based at the Arkansas Post in the late 1700’s. They first made their way into the White River Valley, up to the Big North Fork trading with the Indians around 1798. Sam Younger currently owns the bulk of the land that was once “Lafferty Settlement and Landing,” near Lock and Dam #3, on the west banks of the river in “The Buckhorn,” Stone County, near St. James. Sam took descendants, Mary Lafferty Wilson and Mary Cooper Miller along the river bottoms pointing out places former cemeteries, hand hewn logs and rock steps, now gone. Mud holes along the road into Younger Bottoms were full and the possibility of getting stuck risky. Sam lead us to the

Indian burial grounds where in the 1920’s floods and later archeologist’s unearthed pottery, utensils, and at least one Indian whose remains were found buried sitting in an upright position. Although this was Osage land for 2,000 years, it is the Quapaw who buried their dead in the ground, in mounds or in the clay floors of their homes, frequently strapped to a stake in a sitting position then covered with earth. Now the burial grounds are gentle rolling slopes in a field populated by cattle. There are two other cemeteries nearby one whose rock markers have eroded and now rest at the river’s edge; the other lost in the moss and undergrowth in the shadows of the trees. Sam recalls only one headstone as having a carved name, “Ennis.” Sam stops at the edge of a field, near the convergence of Younger and Martin Access roads. “Your grandparents are likely buried here,” he says. There’s nothing here now but a beautiful river bottom field. Sam remembers when the cemetery was there with 30 or so graves. “It grew up and when it was cleared for the field, the head rocks were leaned up against the trees over there. They were there for a very long time then one day, they were gone.”

John Lafferty a fur trader first arrived here in 1798 running the waters of the White River in a keelboat.

Likely around 1804, he brought his older sons and built a cabin. In 1808, he brought cattle and slaves. In 1810 he brought his wife Sarah and remaining children here. The oldest Lafferty daughter Elizabeth married Charles Kelly in Sumner TN June 11, 1810 just before beginning the journey to “The Buckhorn” with her parents. She died during the move at the mouth of the White River at the Arkansas Post. Charles became the first Sheriff of Independence County. According to the New American State Papers, the Lafferty’s applied for a land patent in 1810 but were denied for the primary reason they had not been here ‘continuously’ for 10 years. This documented denial is the first settler’s claim to land in present day Stone County, 200 years ago.

Dec. 16, 1811 John and Sarah witnessed the New Madrid earthquake that caused the Mississippi to run backwards, creating Mud Island at Memphis. They saw huge clouds of dust, rocks, fire and water shoot into the sky, leaving behind a 200 foot deep pit that when the river rose water would run from into the fields.

Around 2005 while completing work Continued on page 26 January 2011 | 19

Joseph Thomas

Homes

The Reed Home

What felt like a Sunday drive with Kimberlee was really a Saturday work excursion to interview the Reed family.

Of course, our duty is to meet wonderful people and learn their stories, and this was no exception. Rick and Angela Reed are successful, self-motivated people with a beautiful family.

Elevated Photography by Clayton Cavaness

It doesn’t hurt that Rick Reed is a professional contractor and owner of the Rick Reed Company; in any case, the home they’ve built is a showcase of brilliant architecture and practical creativity. Rick will be the first to tell you that they had considerable help from an architect friend, but it is not the structure alone that tells their story. The Reeds are a family of savers. They will tell you they don’t ever throw anything that holds a memory away. You can hear in their voices the love they hold for their family’s history.

Angela Reed, founder of Reed Physical Therapy, met us and gave us a grand tour, fitting for the house. Greeted by the open layout of the welcoming front porch, we walk through the striking door to find an elegant foyer that opens to the hallway and pulls us in with its significant staircase. The upstairs was built with guests in mind, mainly the children and their families. Two bedrooms and two baths with a great room in between make up this upper level, all held together by the view. The bedrooms are furnished with beds and fixtures that Rick and his sister grew up with. The house is full of aged trophy cases that the Reeds have salvaged from many schools and upstairs, one is a showcase of their children’s first toys.

We walk through the rooms and make our way back to the staircase and notice a trail of antique lights from all over, refurbished and shining bright. Appreciating the history saved, we come upon the landing and notice the brilliant chandelier holding sway over the foyer. Visiting each room downstairs and meeting daughter Leslie, we realize that each room is a room full of stories. The lights lining the downstairs hall came from the Huddleston Hotel that once stood in Sulphur Rock. Rick’s first draftsman table sits like a shrine in an upstairs bedroom. The breakfast nook holds the original round table from Pals Restaurant, now Kelley Wyatt’s, where scores

of meaningful and colorful conversations were etched into its timeworn wood. More refinished trophy cases distributed downstairs hold more true valuables; from a grand-mother’s Depression Era beaded edge Candlewick

Crystal to Nehi and Grapette bottling articles enshrined in honor of Rick’s grandfather who worked at the bottling plant. An office just off the kitchen holds RC Cola memorabilia, antique desks, and an ancient carpenter’s cabinet full of a grandfather’s tools. An oak table in the office is a solid plank from a 160 ringed tree. Mack Farm Dairy artifacts complement the breakfast nook in honor of

Angela’s grandfather.

Halfway through the tour, the day was brightened with the addition of grand-daughter Madison.

She brought Petey, the dachshund, along and helped us finish out the grand tour. A custom master bath was our next find, adorned with a pebbled floor walk-in shower and smartly tiled bath. Having seen the house, there were still stories to be told and acquaintances to be made. Rick and Madison’s father, Clint, arrived and joined us on a tour of the shop, teeming with more relics from another era and a smart and roomy dog kennel in the making, a fitting hang out for incoming hunters fatigued from a long day’s hunt.

A family’s history intermingled with community lore, all comfortably wedged inside a modern cabin with all of the amenities, is all anyone can hope for. Kimberlee and I remain in awe of the transformation that takes place when a family’s love takes hold of a house.

The Reed Family and their home is a testament to this idea.N

Photos by Joseph Thomas

Photo by Clayton Cavaness

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January 2011 | 23

Youth Julie M. Fidler SOU THSIDE -- A Southside junior highschooler spends his weekends participating in a death-defying sport. Kyler Keeney, 13, has won 27 motocross races within the last year. Kyler started getting in races late in 2009, with the help of a couple of friends who were already involved in the past-time. “I’d wanted a dirt bike for a long time,” he said. “We just found one and bought it. Then, my mom told me about this track up at Heber Springs. We started going up there to practice a lot, and I asked Dad if I could race there, and he said I could.”

“Dad” is Elton Keeney of Batesville. “These bikes are designed and built to race,” he said. “Expensive too.” Kyler’s father said they were lucky to have the help of Rick Caudel, owner of Western Sizzlin’ in Batesville, from the beginning.

Others who help keep Kyler’s bikes in shape, or sponsor all the equipment he needs, include Quick Signs and Graphics of Heber Springs, and Clint Carter at O’Neil Bottoms Motocross Park, Independence County Off-Road and B&R Marine and Cycle, all in Batesville.

The motocross season starts early in the year in February. At that time, there’s not a race every weekend. But, when March rolls around, the races start up and run every weekend through the end of November. “We’ve missed three races since Feb. 28, 2010, and that’s ‘cause they were rained out,” said Keeney.

Arkansas State Motocross Series and Arkansas State Championship Series put on the races at tracks across the state that host them.

“There’s a point series of races, and it goes on at every different track,” said Kyler. I raced three or four in 2009, and they were at Heber 24 | eyeonmag.com

Southside youth enjoys deadly fun on weekends Springs,” Kyler said. “That’s where my first race was.”

AMXA opened a new track in Cave City in 2010 and the owners wanted Kyler to try it out before a race there. “He broke his collar bone, and still came in second,” said his father. Kyler has hundreds of trophies and plaques to show for all of his races. He also had a broken wrist and has been “knocked out” twice during races.

Although the family’s pictures of Kyler flying through the air on his bike are probably the most stunning, Kyler said there are things about the races he likes more than the jumps. “There’s jumps and burns, which is in the corner.

You go up on a dirt wall. It’s like an embanked corner. Then rollers, which is a jump thing in the middle of a corner. My favorite part is not really the jumps, but being close to other bikes and clearing corners and all that,” said Kyler.

In the height of the racing season, Kyler practices on the track three or four days a week for the weekend competitions. “Lately, I’ve not been practicing as much because it’s so cold,” he said.

Kyler obviously has the support of his father, but what about Mom, Sherry Keeney? “My mom doesn’t really like that I race that much,” he said. “It scares her. Her whole side of the family doesn’t like it much, except for my grandpa, because they think it’s too dangerous.

Dad’s side of the family -- I don’t think they really want me to quit.”

“His grandma came to Heber and watched him,” said Keeney.

“He is in the air, 80 or 90 feet. She screams, gets up and leaves.”

What advice would Kyler offer a would-be motocross racer? “When I started off, I didn’t know how to do anything,” he said. “I wasn’t very good at all. At each race, Dad

would ask a lot of the pros questions and would get a bunch of hints from them. He’d tell me all this stuff, and I’d try to get the best ways from all of them. Also, I just spent a lot of time on the bike.

Once they start, there’s no way they can stop racing,” said Kyler “Sometimes, we’ve hit two different races in one weekend,” said Keeney. “Not long ago, we practiced at Enola where the state series championship banquet was.

He wrecked pretty bad, went to Heber and raced. He got knocked out, we got back home at midnight and went back to Enola to race the next day.”

Kyler seems to look at the injuries as an inconvenience. “When I get hurt, I pretty much want to hurry and get over it so I can ride,” he said. “After I broke my collar bone, I rode a dirt bike the very next day and raced in three weeks.”

“And won,” Keeney added. “The doctors were screaming, ‘No, no, no!’”

As for his plans for 2011, Kyler has three out-of-state races in his sites. “Next year I want to go to Loretta Lynn’s in Tennessee, Ponca City, Okla., and Branson, Mo.,” he said. “I want to try to make it to Loretta’s, but it’s hard to get there.

You go to a track one weekend, and it’s like a race. Whoever gets in, like, the top eight in the area qualifier, goes to a regional qualifier, and they go from there. You’ve gotta be good … and fast.”N

Note Worthy Events White River Photographers Club announces scavenger hunt The newly formed White River Photographers Club will have a dual focus in January: to create interest in club membership and to promote Batesville businesses. The club is sponsoring a photo scavenger hunt that should help accomplish both objectives. Contestants must use clues to find and photograph items at local businesses or geographic points of interest, said

club co-founder Michael McGaha.

The contest runs Jan. 13-20, and entries must be submitted on removable media (such as a CD or a flash drive) or by e-mail at or before the club’s 6:30 p.m. meeting Jan. 20. Photos may be e-mailed to McGaha at michael@criminalscan. com. For more information, e-mail McGaha, call him at (870) 6125265 or visit the club’s Facebook page (search for White River Photographers Club).

Tourism Committee Meeting Thursday, January 13 - Tourism Committee Meeting, Batesville Area Chamber of Commerce Board Room, 9 a.m.

Business and Professionals Luncheon Area professionals are invited to First Baptist Church annex, 610 E. Main, every 1st and 3rd Thursday for a professionals and business luncheon. The luncheon lasts from noon-12:45 p.m., with

lunch provided and a 10 minute program.

United Way Board Meeting Tuesday, January 11- United Way Board Meeting 5:00 p.m. in the George Ryder Room at First Community Bank Main Street Batesville's Second Friday Event Friday, January 14. Select businesses will be open late and Entertainment can be found up and down Historic Main Street during this monthly event.

Batesville Rotary Club Meets each Monday at noon at Josie’s at the Lockhouse.

Batesville Lions Club Meets each Tuesday at noon at the Italian Grill.

Batesville Kiwanis Club Meets each Friday at noon at Western Sizzlin.N

January 2011 | 25

Continued from page 19 on Lock and Dam #3 under the direction of Lyon College, the sinkhole, one of the greatest geological remains of the 1811 earthquake was filled in. Nearby is an Indian thong tree, strategically cut to grow this way by the Indians as early road signs, markers to indicate shelter, settlements, caves, springs and waterways. One of our members catches sight of another one on the upper embankment and before we leave, a third on the edge of the marsh.

Part Two of Traversing the Buckhorn - Lafferty Settlement and Landing 1810 will be published in our February issue.

(Visit www.ExploringIzardCo. Com to view the photos, story and video of “Traversing the Buckhorn.” Stone County native, Freda Cruse Phillips, PhD writes pre-Civil war history of the White River Valley. Her work appears in a number of newspapers and magazines throughout the Ozark Region. Author of a number of

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text books, her first book on the White River Valley, was published in 2009, Voices of Our People. Her second book, Places of Our People has a scheduled release date of April 2011.)N

Security DEFEND YOUR CASTLE.

Visit your local Suddenlink store or call 1-800-890-5220 www.suddenlink.com

Security

Home Security

CONNECTED. PROTECTED. Home Security

Home Security

January 2011 | 27

Kevin Rose

Community Bank President Batesville

Meet Kevin Community Bank President

Kevin Rose has joined the Liberty Bank team as Community Bank President for Batesville.

With more than 11 years of lending experience, Kevin has worked in banking since 1997. He is a graduate of Arkansas State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Corporate Finance. He later completed the Barret School of Banking in Memphis, TN, where he earned a Graduate Degree.

Kevin’s lending experience and community involvement make him a perfect match for our community banking philosophy of helping the cities, towns, and neighborhoods we serve continue to improve and grow.

Join us in welcoming Kevin Rose to the Liberty Bank team! Stop by to visit him for your next loan at 1240 East Main Street in Batesville or give him a call at 870.793.7373.

870.793.7373 mylibertybank.com

MEMBER FDIC

Continued from page 10 Gunter: Well, we only handle dogs and cats because I felt like it was a better focus than to also do exotic animals. I think we can do a better job by limiting our focus to just that area. That allows us to do what we do well. We try to afford your pet the same care your children should get from a caring hospital. These animals are considered family members in most cases and we treat them accordingly.

Early in my practice one of my customers brought in a very sick dog that needed surgery. I knew immediately that it was going to get very expensive and because of the dog’s age, possibly not be successful. I explained this to the gentleman so he would know the situation. He told me that this dog had helped his son who died of cancer and the dog meant the world to him. He asked me to save the dog and not tell him what his dog was worth. In my worrying about his cost, I insulted this man, so now my motto is this: “Your pocket book is your concern; your dog or cat’s health is mine.” If money is a concern for you, please ask me, but I’m going to do what is best for you pet every time. If that means I refer you to someone else, then so be it. We do orthopedics, some advanced imaging with ultrasound, and we offer thoracic and abdominal surgeries. I suppose the negative pressures involved with thoracic surgeries make it a bit of a specialty in this area; not a lot of places offer this.

Eye On: What do you find is most rewarding to you in your practice?

Gunter: The best thing I can do here is to help people by helping their animals, period. I tell people all of the time, I will treat your pet with as much care as I would treat my daughters. That is a hundred percent a hundred percent of the time. That is the best I can do with my position, to help people by helping their pets.

Eye On: Speaking of your daughters, tell us a little bit about your family.

Gunter: That beautiful girl from Melbourne is Valerie and we have two more beautiful girls now, Claire (8) and Kate (5). My wife, Valerie, home schools our girls and does the books for the office, so she is busy.

Eye On: And your staff?

Gunter: I have a young female employee in the Vet Tech program at Beebe and she should finish up in May. Mica is the office manager; Cagney and Lesley are my assistants and they are all excellent.

They are good at what they do and it allows me to do what I do best.

Eye On: What does Matt Gunter do when he is not taking care of our cats and dogs?

Gunter: It’s actually quite a list of things that I do for fun. I hunt and fish. Cycling is something that I love. I started running when

I was eight because both of my parents ran in the ‘70’s. My dad’s best friend was a tri-athlete and he got me started cycling. By the time I was fourteen I was racing triathlons and did that until I was nineteen. I ran some in college and then just found other things that I wanted to do more than run. I swim and I still cycle. As a matter of fact, a friend, Alan Rowell, and I rode the MS150 this year and rode a century (which is a hundred miles and beyond) at the Fletcher Flyer in North Carolina. I have a sailboat and do some canoeing. We also camp quite a bit.

Eye On: Are there any last words that you would like the community to know about yourself or your practice?

Gunter: I tell people all of the time that people are absolutely the most important thing about this business, whether it is the people here, the kids at the Upward Bound program that we work with, or the kids from church that we take hunting. People are really amazing. I’ve seen people give and give and expect nothing in return. You watch the news and see nothing but the bad, but the world is not that way. The best of any community is found in its people.

If you are in need of a caring and a qualified doctor for your dog or cat, visit the Animal Medical Center at 50 Allen Chapel Road or call (870) 251-2680.N January 2011 | 29

Organization Julie M. Fidler

New Location Increases Awareness for Family Violence Prevention

BATESVILLE -- Now double the size, Family Violence Prevention’s resale shop is attracting some welcome attention for the organization that helps victims of domestic abuse.

Rebecca Riley, executive director of FVP, said the shop’s new location at 1280 North St. Louis Street (next to Tool Central) has increased visibility greatly.

Formerly located near the end of West Main Street in a 3,000-square foot building, the new shop fills 6,000 square feet with clothing, furniture, appliances, housewares, knick-knacks, books and anything else one might need -- all at exceptional prices.

Riley said some victims of abuse, now clients, who have received help learned about the organization through the resale shop. The shop is governed by the board of directors of Family Violence Prevention, Inc., and pays two part-time employees. A new manager, Tonya Gibson, has just been hired at the shop.

She replaces LaVonda Estep, who resigned to take another job.

The rest of the store is run by eight volunteers who put in many hours. “We have some very dedicated volunteers who almost work full-time at the shop,” said Riley. “We can always use volunteers.”

With more and more donations coming in than ever, due to the visibility of the new location, the shop will need more help from those who can spend some time sifting through donations.

Donations to the shop may be made during business hours 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Like the previous, smaller shop, the new store houses an “awareness section.” It includes T-Shirts decorated in memory of local victims and other items in remembrance of them. “That’s necessary to reserve that space,” Riley said. “The shop serves a dual purpose. It brings in some income so we can offer services, and it spreads awareness.”

“Awareness Section” at the new shop 30 | eyeonmag.com

Riley said the organization’s clients are able to use clothing, furniture and other items that are donated.

Family Violence Prevention will host its second annual dinner and silent auction April 1. The event includes a 5-course meal, prepared by a chef. Local businesses donate items for the silent auction.

Last year’s event, “Silent (No More) … Dine to End Domestic Abuse,” was sold out with 130 in attendance.

This year’s dinner will be at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Batesville. Tickets go on sale in February at the FVP office in the basement of the Independence County Courthouse. They are $60 each.

This past October, FVP held its 22nd annual candlelight vigil in remembrance of victims of domestic abuse across the state. Speakers at the vigil included Jayne Ann Kita, executive director of Arkansas Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

During the vigil, the names of those who died due to domestic violence in 2009 were read out loud.

There were 20.

During the same month, Domestic Violence Awareness Month, FVP held a family event at Riverside Park to promote awareness … a first annual Celebrate Peace Event. It targeted children and youth and included games and activities.N

Outgoing Manager LaVonda Estep

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This year Southside High School EAST class hosted Wreaths Across America to honor veterans.

Wreaths Across America is a pro ject dedicated to helping families honor their loved ones by helping them purchase wreaths to be laid upon their veteran’s grave. The ceremony was held at Kyler Cemetery on Saturday, December the 11th to honor veterans buried at Kyler. Katie Tripp and Ryan Vanhorn, both students at Southside High School, were the project managers for the local Wreaths Across America USO project. Both students said they were glad to be a part of the project. They agreed, feeling that they were doing something good for the families and the veterans as well as the community. Tripp and Vanhorn hope that they have helped to start a

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new tradition for future EAST students. For more information about Wreaths Across America you may visit http://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org.N

January 2011 | 31

The Arts

BAAC Art Gallery News

Carly Dahl will be the featured artist at the BAAC Art Gallery during the January Main Street Second Friday Event.

Carly Dahl is an artist/ printmaker whose work visually deals with ideas and ideals of beauty and representation in society. These artworks psychologically picture pressures and identities women deal with in their gender. Carly works mostly in printmaking and painting with hand drawn details into the work. In the images, faces are left blank so that the women represented could potentially be AIE Artist Melinda LeFevers recently worked with Mrs. Stephanie Miller’s South Side high school English classes teaching them about the Renaissance and life in a castle. LeFevers also worked with South Side vocal music teacher Mrs. Angie Weaver’s choir students teaching them Renaissance Dances in preparation for the Madrigal Dinner performance which was held on the South Side Campus December tenth and eleventh.

any woman and the viewer can project themselves or others into the artwork.

Carly Dahl has a BFA in Printmaking from the University of Toledo, Ohio. She was born in Monroe, Michigan and currently resides in Batesville, Arkansas.

BAAC Art Gallery will be providing a Gourd Art Workshop on Monday, January 31. Class will begin at 9:30 a.m. and continue until 4:00 p.m. Joyce Campbell will be the instructor for the workshop. You may pre-register by calling (870) 793-3382.

AIE Artists Hal Evans and Tracy Hultz with Troupe d’Jour recently spent time working with South Side third grade students using theatre games, literacy methods and strategies to address the writing process. Students created a written work, edited and revised their work with the final result being a well-written story.

These AIE residencies were supported in part by the South Side

School District, the Batesville Area Arts Council which is an agency of the Department of Arkansas Heritage and the National Endowment of the Arts.

The BAAC Art Gallery was the scene of a cookie house-making workshop the first Saturday in December.

Those in attendance enjoyed nibbling as much a building and everyone had a wonderful time.

ARKANSAS CRAFT SCHOOL ANNOUNCES SESSION II EVENING COMMUNITY CRAFT CLASSES Following a successful first session of Arkansas Craft School Evening Community Classes, Session II will begin Thursday, January 15, 2011, and will run until March 12, 2011. Classes will be held at the Craft School’s main Artisan Studio at 110 East Main Street; conveniently and safely located right off the Square and next door to the Arkansas Craft Guild.

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Session II classes will start off on Thursday evenings with Pottery Classes - which will again be taught by local ceramic artist, David Dahlstedt.; and Weaving Classes which will be taught by Terri Van Orman.

In addition, a Saturday morning children’s pottery class will be taught by local ceramist Coral McCallister. Evening classes begin at 6:30 p.m. and run until 9:30 p.m. Coral’s Saturday morning class will begin at 9:00 a.m. and run until noon.

David and his wife Becki have been creating their line of decorative and functional ceramic wares produced under the name of Mountain View Pottery for many years. A major foundation grant recently supplied the Craft School with the funds to purchase eight new potter’s wheels, a ceramic kiln and other necessary equipment for a ceramic space at the Craft School.

David is looking forward to sharing the skills he has mastered in a lifetime of pottery making with local beginning and intermediate pottery students.

Terri Van Orman is Executive Director of the Arkansas Craft School, and has been teaching weaving since 1991. Many of the area’s weavers had their start in one or more of Terri’s weaving classes; and the Ozark Folk Fiber Guild was also an outgrowth of her early weaving classes – the original brainchild of one-time weaving student, Steve Hickman.

Coral McCallister is an artist

whose whimsical animal sculptures and paintings have inspired admiration from fellow artists and collectors alike. She loves kids and their artwork; and seems to have an innate ability for making them feel comfortable with their own creativity and bringing out their adventurous, artistic natures. Her class, entitled “Where the Wild Things Are…”, is appropriate for kids aged 8 – 12.

Fees for Thursday night adult Pottery and Weaving Classes will be $225.00 each, plus materials fees according to the instructor.

Fees for Coral’s Saturday morning kid’s class will be $150.00 per child. Scholarships are available to financially qualifying students for both adult evening and Saturday morning kid’s classes. Class registration forms, scholarship applications and further information on these and other class offerings of the Arkansas Craft School may be found on the website: www. arkansascraftschool.org. Students may also sign up for classes by calling Terri Van Orman at (870) 269-8397.N

January 2011 | 33

Birds, Bees, Flowers and Trees Autumn Hunter I’ve been working on an article about the importance of conserving water. While I’m still researching that topic; I thought we might indulge in a bit of rabbit chasing and get off our main track. This article will lead into the next one when I’ve decided on an angle.

Plus, you can really relate any topic back to nature.

My brother teasingly calls me Mother Earth. Besides the fact that I catch rain water and recycle diligently, I also like to save money.

Since this is the beginning of a new year and given our economically trying times, many of you have resolved to live on a tighter budget. In addition to being pocket book friendly, other earth friendly habits to develop could include: use only rechargeable batteries, throw all food scraps to compost instead

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Going Green for Your Pocketbook

of into the disposal or trash, turn off the lights whenever you leave the room, unplug any outlets that are not used on a daily basis, try to reduce the amount of trash you put out each week, and make at home some of the products you buy on a regular basis. One of my “Mother Earth” friends has shared some of her secrets and resources.

I thought I’d share my favorite basic recipe with you and the benefits of “made at home” products.

One product that we all use is laundry detergent. For not much more than a quart of name brand detergent you’ll spend close to seven dollars at the grocery store.

Even the economy, two gallon size of a generic brand is around nine dollars. You could, however, make more than nine gallons for less than ten bucks, with not much effort, and still have ingredients left over. The following method takes little effort, is easy on the

pocket book and ecofriendly.

Your ingredients are: 1 bar of Ivory soap, 1 cup of 20 Mule Team Borax, and 1 cup of Arm and Hammer Super Washing Soda. You can purchase three bars of Ivory soap for about a dollar. Borax comes in a white box, four pounds for around four dollars. You can use this box up to nine times. The Super Washing Soda is a yellow, three pound box for three dollars.

This box will last you for six uses. I would like to pay my compliments to Harps at Southside for carrying this product since I have increasingly had a hard time finding this item at any of the bigger groceries stores in Batesville. When not in use, store these ingredients in a dry area at room temperature to avoid clumping for future use.

Now that you’ve spent eight or nine dollars you will have laundry detergent for a long time. I personally have not bought any laundry

detergent in close to two years. Removing just this one item from your annual budget could be a one hundred dollar savings per person in your household.

You begin with five cups of boiling water and shave one Ivory soap bar directly into the water.

A cheese grater or a knife would get the soap bits small enough to dissolve fast. I like using the pizza cutter to get thin sheets instead of small chunks. Stir until every piece is completely dissolved. Take a clean bucket and pour in three gallons of hot water. Next, stir in one cup of Borax, and one cup of Super Washing Soda. Make sure your stirring spoon reaches all the way to the bottom of the bucket to keep sediments stirred into the water. Now it’s time to pour in your boiling, soapy water. All of this has taken about ten minutes. From this point, all you have to do is stir. Every time you walk through the kitchen or wherever you are making your soap, give it a good stir. You must continue to do this until the entire contents of the bucket are completely cooled.

Just stir every once in awhile since this will likely take a few hours.

Typically, I start making my detergent when I come in from work.

It’s usually poured and stored by the time I go to bed. Now you have more than three gallons of laundry detergent. You also have ingredients left to make two more three gallon batches before returning to the store for only Ivory soap.

When the mixture has completely cooled, pour the contents of your bucket into smaller containers for storage. It may be easier if you use a small funnel to avoid losing some of your ingredients down the drain. This mixture will fill four or five plastic laundry detergent bottles, depending on the size. Since this amount of detergent will last me a long time; I give some away to friends and family, who in turn save their empty bottles for me.

For normal clothes I use half a cup of liquid laundry detergent. For more heavily soiled clothes use a cup of detergent. The only downside I can find to this way of cleaning clothes is that you will need to shake the laundry detergent bottle before each use to keep all the ingredients stirred together. It will also congeal if it’s left in near freezing temperatures. If your washer is in the garage, leave the detergent inside.

This recipe will result in liquid laundry detergent that has a clean smell but really no aroma. If you

would like your laundry to have fragrance, try adding some concentrated essential oils. I have experimented with lavender and citrus. My favorite so far is geranium. Be warned, when using a concentrate you only need to use around thirty drops of oil in your entire three gallon mixture. Add it after your boiling soap water and stir it in with all the other ingredients. It will also make your house smell good while your laundry soap is cooling.

The heavy use of sodium triphosphates in commercially produced laundry detergent has been recognized as a serious environmental hazard to our freshwater lakes, ponds, and streams.

Industry overuses the chemical as a water softener. However, this inorganic compound causes an overproduction of phytoplankton blooms which eliminates oxygen; therefore killing the resource and all living things dependant on that body of water. Making detergent at home from three simple ingredients can help save our water resources and your pocketbook.

Happy New Year!N

January 2011 | 35

Today is a

great day to feel good.

With Farmers Insurance you don’t just get insurance, you get ready.

Get to know a Farmers agent today, and you’ll see why

Ready Feels Good.

Janet Smart Agency 870-793-5757 jsmart@farmersagent.com 11 Eagle Mtn Blvd Batesville, AR 72501 Arkansas Insurance Producer License No. 344724

36 | eyeonmag.com

Support Our Advertisers First Community Bank-------------------------2 Thompson’s Jewelry----------------------------3 Scott Wood-------------------------------------3 Deni’s Inspirations------------------------------4 Huer’s Family Shoes----------------------------4 Western Trails----------------------------------5 Lakeside----------------------------------------6 Etta’s Attic--------------------------------------8 Autry’s------------------------------------------8 Dairy Queen------------------------------------9 House of Flowers----------------------------- 11 Studio Salon---------------------------------- 11 Elizabeth’s Restaurant------------------------ 11 The Medicine Shoppe------------------------ 18 Fine Line Body Art---------------------------- 19 Ivory Owl------------------------------------- 21 Charlie’s Mens Wear/ Charlie’s Angels------- 23 Coldwell Banker------------------------------ 23 Independence County Recycling Center----- 23 Rich Realty----------------------------------- 25 General Pest Control------------------------- 25 Kent’s Firestone------------------------------ 26 The Daisy Chain------------------------------ 26 Teacher 2 Teacher---------------------------- 27 Suddenlink----------------------------------- 27 The Flower Shoppe--------------------------- 27 Liberty Bank---------------------------------- 28 Ozark Foothills FilmFest---------------------- 31 Just Chillin’ Frozen Yogurt-------------------- 31 Woodlawn, Inc------------------------------- 31 R. M. Weaver Real Estate--------------------- 32 Frank Kallsnick, Inc.-------------------------- 33 City Council Broadcast- ---------------------- 33 Robert O. Seat Photography----------------- 34 Mark Martin KIA------------------------------ 35 The Uniform Shop---------------------------- 36 Farmers Insurance---------------------------- 36 Stanley Wood-------------------------------- 37 Natalie’s-------------------------------------- 37 Carlee’s Hallmark----------------------------- 39 Select Shots Elevated Photography---------- 39 The Citizens Bank- --------------------------- 40

EOI Movie Review Reviewed by Tanner Smith Smith’s Verdict: **** It’s hard to make a good or great movie about networking, but it is possible. It’s even harder (and seemingly impossible) to make a good or great movie about the creation of a social network via computer.

But “The Social Network” amazingly pulls it off—this is a great movie, not just because it knows what it’s talking about when it comes to developing this website, but because it’s so skillfully made and highlights a great cast and a sharp script.

“The Social Network” is the true story about the creation of Facebook, the social network we all (or most of us, anyway) know and love. But you’d be surprised that this is more about people than about Facebook. Facebook was created by an intelligent young man named Mark Zuckerberg, whose creation made him the youngest billionaire ever in America. In the movie, Mark is played by Jesse Eisenberg as a Harvard student who thinks he is right all the time. This doesn’t do him well with social situations; in an opening scene, he uses logic with his date Erica (Rooney Mara, soon to be known as The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) to the point where she dumps him and calls him an a—hole. Indeed, he is arrogant, persistent, and may be an a—hole, but he’s intelligent and somewhat witty with his own logical arguments.

Mark gets the idea while drunk and blogging that he could develop a site where fellow students could decide which of two Harvard girls is hotter than the other. He hacks into the computer system with the “facebooks” of students on campus computers, creates the site, and is declared an even bigger a—hole.

But this brings the attention of identical twin brothers Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss (Armie Hammer), both of whom are on the university’s rowing team, and their business partner Divya Narendra (Max Minghella). They tell Mark that they want him to help them program a new website called The Harvard Connection. Mark agrees, but goes to his best (and only) friend, Eduardo (Andrew Garfield--soon to be known as the next Spider-Man), with the idea of making this idea into something bigger—“Thefacebook,” an online social network where Harvard students can display personal information.

Mark and Eduardo eventually launch the site, which brings them popularity and trouble. The film moves back and forth between those scenes and scenes involving Mark being sued by both the twins for stealing their idea, and by Eduardo, for reasons to be explained later in the film. This shows you can be popular because of an idea, but can also create new

The Social Network enemies too. In the storytelling scenes, we see Facebook develop into a wider network, Eduardo is made CFO and paid thousands of dollars to help program it. We later meet Sean Parker (Justin Timberlake), the founder of two music web startups (Napster and Plaxo). Sean is brought in to give insight on “Thefacebook” (drop the “the,” expand it, etc.). Sean is a manipulative creep who has Mark in the palm of his hands and pulls him into the big time. Why expand Facebook— well, why make millions when they can make billions?

The story of “The Social Network” (of which some elements are true, but like most biopics, they add flights of fancy) seems impossible to make into a movie. But the storytelling is amazingly well-developed with an excellent script. This is a great movie to listen to—the dialogue that these bright Harvard students engage in is on-target and amazing, but never to the point where we’re annoyed. And I love movies that show the whole process of creation— even if the idea of writing or filming how they begin to invent Facebook sounds “unfilmable” and illiterate, the script still surprises us with spellbinding writing and explanations in ways we can understand. This screenplay, written by Aaron Sorkin, should get an Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay (the film is partially based on the book, The Accidental Billionaires). It never falters, condescends, or dumbs down the material or the characters. It’s amazing how Sorkin and the film’s director, David Fincher, are able to tell this story without boring audiences.

Also, the script is excellent in developing the characters. Mark Zuckerberg is a nonsocial smart aleck; Eduardo is reliable but has a breaking point; and Sean is a bigger a—hole than Mark, but tries to cover it with manipulation and charm. The story gets heavier when Mark doesn’t even realize that Sean redrafts the financial arrangements to keep Eduardo out of the picture. All three roles are wonderfully acted and even “wonderfully” is not a strong enough adjective to describe these performances. Jesse Eisenberg deserves an Oscar (or at least a nomination) for his portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg. We all know from “Adventureland” and “Zombieland,” in which he starred, that Eisenberg is a great young actor with a dry, highly verbal sense of humor. Here, he gives his best performance, helping the audience understand Zuckerberg’s arrogance and intelligence. He makes Mark Zuckerberg a living, breathing character rather than the butt of a joke this movie could have become.

He has great screen presence, remarkable comic

timing, excellent acting range, and is absolutely fantastic in this movie. Other strong performances include Justin Timberlake as Sean and Andrew Garfield as Eduardo.

(After seeing Andrew Garfield in this movie, I can’t wait to see him take on the role of Spider-Man in its reboot.)

With a great cast, sharp direction, and an excellent script, “The Social Network” is, by far, the best film of 2010.”N

Kennadi Pretty | Stacy Pretty Photography

January 2011 | 39

Pam Heigle Vice President Mortgage Lending

Citizens Bank is first in Mortgage Loans.

We’re the Independence County leader when it comes to mortgage loans.

In fact, we’ve closed over a third more in dollar volume than the closest local bank so far in 2010.* It’s a reflection of our long-standing strength and investment in our community, and your continuing trust in Citizens to be your first choice when it comes to banking.

*Includes all residential and commercial mortgages filed in Independence County from 1/2010 to 10/2010 by banks headquartered in Independence County.

www.thecitizensbank.net 870-793-4441 FAX 870-698-4713 265 South Third St. PO Box 2156 Batesville, AR 72503-2156